Raymond
@channelmaniac.bsky.social
Owner of a small business, board member of a non-profit, and one of the organizers of VCF Southwest.
You can find my projects and contributions at https://github.com/channelmaniac
You can find my projects and contributions at https://github.com/channelmaniac
Always nice to get pictures from customers of their games running with the boards we repaired for them. :)
November 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Always nice to get pictures from customers of their games running with the boards we repaired for them. :)
It's fun repairing a Galaga arcade game boardset that another tech messed up. Not only did they not replace a chip that failed when vibrations occurred (internal die bond failure), they left resistor packs unsoldered which made the game very unstable - crashing and rebooting often.
October 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
It's fun repairing a Galaga arcade game boardset that another tech messed up. Not only did they not replace a chip that failed when vibrations occurred (internal die bond failure), they left resistor packs unsoldered which made the game very unstable - crashing and rebooting often.
Rain on the way up was so bad we were doing 25mph up US69. The rain stopped just before we pulled up to the place and loaded up the truck and trailer.
Got some great pizza at a stop in Durant before taking US-70 over to I35. If you find yourself near Durant, this place is worth a stop.
Got some great pizza at a stop in Durant before taking US-70 over to I35. If you find yourself near Durant, this place is worth a stop.
October 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Rain on the way up was so bad we were doing 25mph up US69. The rain stopped just before we pulled up to the place and loaded up the truck and trailer.
Got some great pizza at a stop in Durant before taking US-70 over to I35. If you find yourself near Durant, this place is worth a stop.
Got some great pizza at a stop in Durant before taking US-70 over to I35. If you find yourself near Durant, this place is worth a stop.
Every year I get older, it gets harder to do these crazy road trips... ~600 miles from 11am to 11:25pm to pick up a half trailer load of vintage computer gear from the late 70s to late 80s.
Had to wait out a break in the storms and route around them. Got the break, took US70 over to I35 then south.
Had to wait out a break in the storms and route around them. Got the break, took US70 over to I35 then south.
October 26, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Every year I get older, it gets harder to do these crazy road trips... ~600 miles from 11am to 11:25pm to pick up a half trailer load of vintage computer gear from the late 70s to late 80s.
Had to wait out a break in the storms and route around them. Got the break, took US70 over to I35 then south.
Had to wait out a break in the storms and route around them. Got the break, took US70 over to I35 then south.
A bad crystal... A hard to find one at that. This is an odd failure as they are usually a reliable part.
I'm trying to fix a ham radio I rescued from Computer Reset a few years back. Already replaced the disintegrated microphone cable and the IC chip that uses this crystal.
I'm trying to fix a ham radio I rescued from Computer Reset a few years back. Already replaced the disintegrated microphone cable and the IC chip that uses this crystal.
October 8, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A bad crystal... A hard to find one at that. This is an odd failure as they are usually a reliable part.
I'm trying to fix a ham radio I rescued from Computer Reset a few years back. Already replaced the disintegrated microphone cable and the IC chip that uses this crystal.
I'm trying to fix a ham radio I rescued from Computer Reset a few years back. Already replaced the disintegrated microphone cable and the IC chip that uses this crystal.
There's always time to learn something new. In this case, it also improved safety.
Polished the headlights on the CX-7. HUGE difference!
Polished the headlights on the CX-7. HUGE difference!
September 26, 2025 at 1:53 AM
There's always time to learn something new. In this case, it also improved safety.
Polished the headlights on the CX-7. HUGE difference!
Polished the headlights on the CX-7. HUGE difference!
Tonight I made a big pot of the 2 packages of fresh "French green beans" I got on markdown at Kroger. I used the last of the pre-cooked and marked down bacon from Aldi.
Minced an onion to go in it. Added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Who says you can't eat well AND cheap? This was less than $6.
Minced an onion to go in it. Added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Who says you can't eat well AND cheap? This was less than $6.
September 23, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Tonight I made a big pot of the 2 packages of fresh "French green beans" I got on markdown at Kroger. I used the last of the pre-cooked and marked down bacon from Aldi.
Minced an onion to go in it. Added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Who says you can't eat well AND cheap? This was less than $6.
Minced an onion to go in it. Added salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Who says you can't eat well AND cheap? This was less than $6.
Who else loves to cook?
Picked up 2 "young whole chickens" at Aldi for 50% off and turnip greens on markdown at Kroger.
Prepped a chicken with garlic and Italian spices, the 2nd with Cajun and garlic, and tossed them in the smoker.
Used some marked down pre-cooked bacon and cooked the greens. :)
Picked up 2 "young whole chickens" at Aldi for 50% off and turnip greens on markdown at Kroger.
Prepped a chicken with garlic and Italian spices, the 2nd with Cajun and garlic, and tossed them in the smoker.
Used some marked down pre-cooked bacon and cooked the greens. :)
September 23, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Who else loves to cook?
Picked up 2 "young whole chickens" at Aldi for 50% off and turnip greens on markdown at Kroger.
Prepped a chicken with garlic and Italian spices, the 2nd with Cajun and garlic, and tossed them in the smoker.
Used some marked down pre-cooked bacon and cooked the greens. :)
Picked up 2 "young whole chickens" at Aldi for 50% off and turnip greens on markdown at Kroger.
Prepped a chicken with garlic and Italian spices, the 2nd with Cajun and garlic, and tossed them in the smoker.
Used some marked down pre-cooked bacon and cooked the greens. :)
Sometimes you just need to tune out the world....
And when you do, you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
Shaved 10 seconds. :)
And when you do, you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
Shaved 10 seconds. :)
August 31, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Sometimes you just need to tune out the world....
And when you do, you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
Shaved 10 seconds. :)
And when you do, you can sometimes be pleasantly surprised.
Shaved 10 seconds. :)
It's fun to add easter eggs to projects. This is on the 8031 Microcontroller-based computer I released at VCF Southwest in 2023.
The easter egg is a throwback to Monty Python's parrot sketch and fits perfectly since most of the CPUs used for this came from parted out casino gambling machines.
The easter egg is a throwback to Monty Python's parrot sketch and fits perfectly since most of the CPUs used for this came from parted out casino gambling machines.
August 7, 2025 at 6:39 PM
It's fun to add easter eggs to projects. This is on the 8031 Microcontroller-based computer I released at VCF Southwest in 2023.
The easter egg is a throwback to Monty Python's parrot sketch and fits perfectly since most of the CPUs used for this came from parted out casino gambling machines.
The easter egg is a throwback to Monty Python's parrot sketch and fits perfectly since most of the CPUs used for this came from parted out casino gambling machines.
There's only room for one king in America...
June 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
There's only room for one king in America...
This Simpsons arcade board took damage from a wiring short inside the cabinet. It came in through the Player 1 Coin Input, damaged it, then took out this custom chip and four ROM chips.
Luckily I had a parts Lethal Enforcers PCB here to salvage a replacement custom chip. I hand soldered this in.
Luckily I had a parts Lethal Enforcers PCB here to salvage a replacement custom chip. I hand soldered this in.
June 1, 2025 at 3:39 AM
This Simpsons arcade board took damage from a wiring short inside the cabinet. It came in through the Player 1 Coin Input, damaged it, then took out this custom chip and four ROM chips.
Luckily I had a parts Lethal Enforcers PCB here to salvage a replacement custom chip. I hand soldered this in.
Luckily I had a parts Lethal Enforcers PCB here to salvage a replacement custom chip. I hand soldered this in.
Every once in a while a rare game gets shipped in for repair.
Unfortunately, this Atari Liberator arcade game board worked 100% on the bench. The owner, a local arcade, has to do some more troubleshooing inside the game cabinet. I gave them some pointers on what to check.
Unfortunately, this Atari Liberator arcade game board worked 100% on the bench. The owner, a local arcade, has to do some more troubleshooing inside the game cabinet. I gave them some pointers on what to check.
June 1, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Every once in a while a rare game gets shipped in for repair.
Unfortunately, this Atari Liberator arcade game board worked 100% on the bench. The owner, a local arcade, has to do some more troubleshooing inside the game cabinet. I gave them some pointers on what to check.
Unfortunately, this Atari Liberator arcade game board worked 100% on the bench. The owner, a local arcade, has to do some more troubleshooing inside the game cabinet. I gave them some pointers on what to check.
Another Macintosh SE is ready for the VCF Southwest fundraising auction. Replaced 2 bad BIOS ROMs and a bad AM5380 SCSI Controller IC.
May 29, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Another Macintosh SE is ready for the VCF Southwest fundraising auction. Replaced 2 bad BIOS ROMs and a bad AM5380 SCSI Controller IC.
Kits are ready for the Intro to Surface Mount Soldering training I'm doing at VCF Southwest next month!
May 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Kits are ready for the Intro to Surface Mount Soldering training I'm doing at VCF Southwest next month!
Killian lives and is coming to a TV near you!!!
May 18, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Killian lives and is coming to a TV near you!!!
Here's the latest in Facebook Fraud...
Reminds me of... hmm... Oh yeah, "Trump University"
Reminds me of... hmm... Oh yeah, "Trump University"
May 13, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Here's the latest in Facebook Fraud...
Reminds me of... hmm... Oh yeah, "Trump University"
Reminds me of... hmm... Oh yeah, "Trump University"
How was your weekend? Mine was the Suckling Pig Festival for roasted pig and dirty rice in Mansura, a ferry ride across the Ouachita River, meat pies in Natchitoches, and BBQ and hot, fresh off the line Southern Maid donuts in Shreveport before returning home.
May 11, 2025 at 6:00 AM
How was your weekend? Mine was the Suckling Pig Festival for roasted pig and dirty rice in Mansura, a ferry ride across the Ouachita River, meat pies in Natchitoches, and BBQ and hot, fresh off the line Southern Maid donuts in Shreveport before returning home.
Tee hee hee... Trumper lawyer is being impersonated in scam ads on Facebook.
May 8, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Tee hee hee... Trumper lawyer is being impersonated in scam ads on Facebook.
If you want to do something, do it right and make it look artsy.
This Neo Geo 4-slot board had terrible battery corrosion. 18 patched traces, 1 connector, audio caps, and a battery kit took care of the bottom board.
Top board had 1 connector replaced and 4 dead traces patched.
This Neo Geo 4-slot board had terrible battery corrosion. 18 patched traces, 1 connector, audio caps, and a battery kit took care of the bottom board.
Top board had 1 connector replaced and 4 dead traces patched.
May 7, 2025 at 5:51 AM
If you want to do something, do it right and make it look artsy.
This Neo Geo 4-slot board had terrible battery corrosion. 18 patched traces, 1 connector, audio caps, and a battery kit took care of the bottom board.
Top board had 1 connector replaced and 4 dead traces patched.
This Neo Geo 4-slot board had terrible battery corrosion. 18 patched traces, 1 connector, audio caps, and a battery kit took care of the bottom board.
Top board had 1 connector replaced and 4 dead traces patched.
Looking for oddball circuit boards like this with a number from 100A to 360D and edge connectors built-in. They are from a company called Kurz Kasch and were from the late 70s to early 80s, used in a repair testbed for repairing old arcade game PCBs.
May 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Looking for oddball circuit boards like this with a number from 100A to 360D and edge connectors built-in. They are from a company called Kurz Kasch and were from the late 70s to early 80s, used in a repair testbed for repairing old arcade game PCBs.
I'd rather solder PLCC or TSSOP packaged chips to PCBs than to mess with SOJ. It's a pain working with those very short pads.
April 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I'd rather solder PLCC or TSSOP packaged chips to PCBs than to mess with SOJ. It's a pain working with those very short pads.
Come see our show in Dallas and have a great time!
https:www.vcfsw.org
And if you have HS students graduating this year, the Vintage Computing Collective of North Texas, a 501c3, is giving away scholarships in the STEM areas. See more on the VCF Southwest web site!
https:www.vcfsw.org
And if you have HS students graduating this year, the Vintage Computing Collective of North Texas, a 501c3, is giving away scholarships in the STEM areas. See more on the VCF Southwest web site!
April 18, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Come see our show in Dallas and have a great time!
https:www.vcfsw.org
And if you have HS students graduating this year, the Vintage Computing Collective of North Texas, a 501c3, is giving away scholarships in the STEM areas. See more on the VCF Southwest web site!
https:www.vcfsw.org
And if you have HS students graduating this year, the Vintage Computing Collective of North Texas, a 501c3, is giving away scholarships in the STEM areas. See more on the VCF Southwest web site!
Late night collaboration with other smart folks is fun!
We came up with the logic necessesary for the 32K card to work with the Tiny BASIC card and the onboard 4K of RAM for the COSMAC VIP. :)
We came up with the logic necessesary for the 32K card to work with the Tiny BASIC card and the onboard 4K of RAM for the COSMAC VIP. :)
April 6, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Late night collaboration with other smart folks is fun!
We came up with the logic necessesary for the 32K card to work with the Tiny BASIC card and the onboard 4K of RAM for the COSMAC VIP. :)
We came up with the logic necessesary for the 32K card to work with the Tiny BASIC card and the onboard 4K of RAM for the COSMAC VIP. :)